Multiple-fuse plug



@SCAR '.'QSS, @lill Amlhfhlll'llll@ CXTY, NEW JERSEY, SSIG-NOR T0 DOERXNG HUl'JDllll'G @@MPANY, @F ATLANTE@ CITE-.T9 NEW JERSEY, A CRPRTXON @F NEW nrunrrrna-rusn rane.

Application tiled June 19, 1223. Serial No. 569,419.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, @scan F. Foss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic City, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey/,have invented certain new and useful lmprovementsl in Multiple-Fuse Plugs, of which the following is a specication.

The fuse plug of this invention is designed to house a plurality of fuse cartridges through any one of Awhich the current may be directed by rotating the cap which forms a portion of the fuse housing. In this way, if a fuse cartridge blows out, the circuit can be thrown through a new cartridge without the slightest diiiiculty by a partial rotation vof the cap, and this operation can be repeated from time to time until all -of thecartridges have been exhausted.

The invention is designed tofacilitate the insertion and removal of the cartridges and with a view of so constructing the housing that it will be compact and sightly vin appearance, and at the same `time afford perfect insulation for the cartridges and tailed description of the invention, which-l 'means for .holding the rotatable cap in locked relation after each rotative movement. f

Further objects will appear from .a deconsists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the device with the cap lifted from the top of y the housing;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the cap; Fig. 3 is an inner face view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the body of the housing showing the cartridge chambers; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one of the cartridges.

The fuse plug ofthe present invention comprises a housing 10 of cylindrical shape which is reduced at its inner end to furnish a cylindrical socket plug 11, which socket plug is enclosed by a threaded shell 12 of a size and style to thread into electric sockets of standard size. rllhe shell terminates at its upper end in a flange 13 which underlies the shoulder portion of the body and adords a circumferential base or door for each of the provided with a cylindrical chamber 15 which merges into an axial bore 16 extending longitudinally through the entire device and terminating at its farther end in an enlarged countersunk recess 17. The chamber l5 affords a space for the housing of a cylindrical shell 18 which is perforated at its inner end to afford passage for an axial conducting bolt 19, which is-threaded at its lcwer end 20 to receive a metal conducting contact cap 21 which lies partially within the countersunk recess 17 in position to contact the usual center contact member of the standard electric light socket. The upper end of the center bolt 19 is provided with a disk shaped head 22 which overlies the inturned inner end wall of the shell 18 and co-acts with a pin 23 which bears against the 'outer face of the inturned wall in a manner'to lock the shell 18 to the conductor bolt. It is also feasible to make the socket plug portion ofthe housing separate from the body of the housing, in which case the center bolt will serve as a tie rod or bolt to hold the two sections together.

The upper end of lthe shell is closed by means of a cap plate 24; provided with a key hole slot 25 and immediately below the cap plate, and within the shell, is a ring shaped depressible plate 26 which is backed by a coil spring 27.

The upper face of the body of the housing at points intermediate the cylindrical chambers, is provided with a series of protuberant shell 18. The center of the cap is provided with a bore 32 through which is entered a contact stud 33 having at its upper end a cross head 34 which lies within a transversely extending recess 35 countersunlr in the outer face of the cap. The stud 33 has mounted thereon a radially extending contact arm 36 which terminates in diverging fingers 36 adapted to make contact with the upper end of a fuse plug presently to be described.

The arm 3G terminates on its far side in4 a tail piece 37 which is struck down to overlie the far side of the boss 3l which latter is provided with a pair of aligned oppositeiy disposed channels 33 which receive the arm 36 and the tail piece 37 respectively, and prevent rotation thereof. rlhe contact arm is held in locked relation on the stud by the provision of a cross pin 39 entered through the stud, and the latter is further provided at a point midway between the contact arm and the lower end of the stud with a later ally extending iin 40 of a size to enter the lateral portion of .the key holezslot 25 and bear against the ring'26. 'The contact arm is preferably made of spring metal, so that it will exert a firm spring contact on any one of the cartridges with which it is brought into register. Immediately above the point of contact of said arm,'the cap is provided with a perforation 41 which is closed by a mica window l i2 which permits inspection of the interior.

Each cartridge consists of a bored plug 43 completely closed at its lower end by a imperforate conducting cap del, and closed at its upper end by a perforated conducting cap 45 and a mica window 46. The upper and lower conducting caps are connected in the usual manner by a conducting wire i7 of low fusibility.

In use, the cartridge chambers are loaded with the fuses preferably arranged to show their windowed ends upwardly after which the cap 29 is turned to proper positionto bring the fin on the center stud in register with the key hole slot after which an inward pressure of the cap will cause the fin to inwardly force the ring 26 against spring tension thereby maintaining a conducting spring contact through the center of the plug. After'the fin has been pressed inwardly to the necessary degree, the cap will be rotated, thereby carrying thefin on the stud under the unslotted portion of the cap plate 24, so that the parts will be locked in position to maintain the lingers of the arm 36 in circuit closing contact with each of the fuse cartridges with which the fingers are brought into register. As the cap is rotated, the arm 36 will be caused to turn to ride over each of the lugs 28 and thereafter spring down into the intermediate recess 29, so that the parts will always be held properly aligned to maintain circuit forming contact save when the cap is being adjusted.

The lower ends of the series of cartridges rest upon the upper iianged end of the threaded shell l2 which completes the circuit through the usual socket member when the plug is inserted after the manner of an incandescent electric light bulb. The device as a whole may be made in compact form, being of a size, but slightly, if any, greater than that of a single fuse plug, since itwill be observed that the transverse standard dimensions of a threaded soclret connection necessitates the use of a plug of at least like dimensions, which circumstance makes the plug of the present invention available for use in practically all conditions wherein; single fuse plugs might be employed.

I claim:

l. A multiple fuse plug comprising a housing having a plurality of radially disposed cartridge chambers formed therein, a fuse cartridge within each of the chambers, a cap rotatably mounted on the housing and provided with a contact member adapted successively to be brought into register with the several cartridges, and centrally disposed combined locking and conducting elements in part fixed to the housing and in part movable with the cap, said elements being adapted to loelr said members together save when the cap is turned on the housing to av predetermined releasing position of adyustment, said members including a spring member located in the housing adapted to be compressed by the engagement of the cap with the housing, substantially as described.

2. ln a multiple fuse plug the combination of a housing provided with a plurality of radially disposed cartridge chambers, cartridges within the chambers, a conducting post extending centrally through the housing, a shell carried by the upper end of the post, a spring/within the shell, a locking element carried by the shell, a closing cap for the housing provided with a centrally disposed stud, a laterally. extending contact arm carried by the stud and adapted to make contact with each of the several cartridges, aloclring element carried by the stud and adapted to co-act under spring pressure with the first mentioned locking clement, and a conductor engaging the opposite ends of the cartridges, substantially as described.

3. In a multiple fuse plug the combination 0f a housing provided with a plurality of radially disposed cartridge chambers, cartridges within the chambers, a conducting post extending centrally through the housing, a shell carried by the upper end of the post, a spring within the shell, a locking element carried by the shell, a closing cap for the housing provided with a centrally disposed stud, a laterally extending contact arm carried by the stud and adapted to make contact with each of the several cartridges, a locking element carried by the .studand adapted to co-act under spring pressure with the irst mentioned locking element and adapted to be released only when the cap and stud are turned to a predetermined position, a conductor engaging the opposite ends of the cartridges, and a gage and interlock with the first mentionedv tween adjustment,

series of protuberanceson the upper face of the housing over which the contact arm is adapted to ride during adjustment and between Whieh said arm is held engaged besubstantially as described.

et. In a multiple fusev plug the combination of a housing provided with a reduced socket plug affording a shoulder at thepoint of juncture therewith, the housing being provided with a radially arranged series of cartridge chambers opening through the shouldered portion of the housing, a threaded conducting shell surrounding the socket plug and presenting its upper edge to the open lower ends of the chambers, cartridges Within the chambers in contact with the upper edge of the conducting shell, a centrally disposed conductor extending through the housing, a rotatable cap provided With a element and to en.-

centrally disposed conducting adapted to rotate with the cap tion of a housing provided with a reduced socket plug affording a shoulder at the point of juncture therewith, thehousing ybeing provided with a radially arranged series of cartridge chambers openingv through the shouldered portion of the housing, a'threaded conducting shell surrounding the socket plug and presenting its upper edge to the open lower ends ofthe chambers, cartridges Within the chambers in contact With the upper edge of the conducting shell, a centrally disposedv conductor extending through the housing and including a spring, a rotatable cap provided With a centrally disposed conducting element adapted to rotate with thefcap and to engage and interlock with the lirst mentioned centrally disposed conductor and adapted to be released therefrom only when the cap and associated conducting element are turned to predetermined position, and a conducting element extending radially from the centrally disposed element and adapted successively to contact with each of the several cartridges, and

locking means serving to hold the I cap against displacement when Vadjusted to circuit closing position, substantially as described.

6. In a multiple fuse plug the combination of a housing provided with a reduced socket plug, the housing being provided with a radially arranged series of cartridge chambers opening through the shouldered portion of the housing, a threaded conducting shell surroundingv the socket plug and presenting its upper edge to the open lower ends of the chambers, cartridges Within the chambers in contact with the upper edgeof the conducting shell, a ,centrally disposed conductor extending through the housin a rotatable cap provided with a centrally is- I posed conducting element adapted to rotate with the cap yand'to engage and interlock with the first mentioned centrally disposed.

conductor and adapted'to be released therefrom only when the cap and associated con- ,ducting element are turned to predetermined position, and a conducting element extending radially from the centrally disposed elem'ent and adapted successivel to contact with each of the several cartridges,

and protuberant lugs arranged in intery mediate relation to the cartridge chambers and providing intermediate channels for the adjusted to circuit closing position, substantially as described. Y

7. In a multiple fuse plu the combination of a housing shouldere at one end to o5 engagement of the contact memberv when post extending centrally through the housing and carrying a shell at its upper end, a spring Wit-hinthe shell, a ring member carried by said spring, an end plate for'said shell provided with a key hole-slot, a rotatable cap adapted to fit onto the housing, said cap being provided with a central conducting stud and a laterally extendingconducting contact member, a fin on the stud adapted in one position to be entered through the key hole slot, and adapted thereafter to be turned to position to preventretraction and hold the cap 'in locked relation with the housing, and means for maintaining the cap .against accidental displacement When adjusted to position to bring the laterally extending Contact element into register with a selected cartridge, substantially as described.

osoAR FREDERicK ross.- ,i 

